Positive Signs for Reliable Man

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday October 10
The signs are good for Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man, following a string of impressive performances from his southern hemisphere progeny in recent weeks.

With his eldest Australasian progeny now three, the dual Group One winning son of Dalakhani has a slew of promising gallopers threatening to feature in Classic races this spring.

Main Stage - Grant CourtneyTrainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young were responsible for his first two Australian winners in the form of Sully and Main Stage.

The latter was a good winner at Flemington on Saturday when taking out the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m), while Sully finished an unlucky third in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).

The pair are both well found toward the head of pre-post betting for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on November 4.

Reliable Man, who boasts an impressive two and a half-length victory over Dundeel in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), is also represented by a pair of well-regarded fillies set to tackle the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) on November 9.

The Robert Smerdon-trained Lilas charged home late to win a maiden at Geelong after being placed on debut, while the Anthony Freedman-prepared Reliable Dame produced a last-to-first performance to win going away over a mile at Ballarat last week.

"It's very heartening," said Westbury Stud's General Manager Russell Warwick. "There's no better stage to be doing it than in the spring in Sydney and in Melbourne.

"The support from breeders and shareholders in Reliable Man has been overwhelming. He was full a couple of months ago and we closed his book at 150 mares.

"He looks an exciting young stallion, but we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves.

"It's really good for New Zealand to have these young stallions coming through like Reliable Man, Ocean Park and with horses like Savabeel, Iffraaj and Tavistock, New Zealand breeding is really heading back to the lofty heights of 10 or 20 years ago."



Reliable Man is also represented by the Group One-placed New Zealand-trained filly Belle du Nord, who is being set for the Gr.1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).

Standing for a fee of $NZ17,500 + GST, Reliable Man has proven popular with New Zealand breeders, covering books of 150 or more in every season except his inaugural season at stud in 2013 when he covered 131 mares. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Beaufort Downs Celebrate Stakes Success with Platinum Diamond
A pedigree close to the hearts of Beaufort Downs has added another black-type strike to the North Canterbury farm’s roll of honour.
Steve Davis Awarded NZTBA Personality of the Year
Bloodstock auctioneer and media personality Steve Davis has been honoured as the 2025 NZTBA Personality of the Year, in recognition of a lifetime of contribution to the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry.
Savabeel Stakes-Winner in the Making
A patient approach with Force Of Nature is being rewarded in spades, with the son of Savabeel winning his way toward black-type assignments.
Westbury Stud Celebrate a Second Oaks Winner for Reliable Man
Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man has had an incredible run this past week, led by his all-conquering daughter Miami Bound who won the Group II Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday, before her dominant victory in the Group I VRC Oaks (2500m) at the Melbourne track on Thursday.
Sires With Winners - Monday July 28
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Closer Look at Written Tycoon – The Golden Crop Delivers
The sun might be setting on the stud career of Written Tycoon, but he’s not going into the twilight years quietly and is set to be crowned Champion Australian 3YO Sire this season, which is probably something predicted by many when he got the opportunity of a lifetime to cover at Arrowfield Stud for one season in 2020.
Stallion Shares in Cool Aza Beel Offer Rare Opportunity via Magic Millions Virtual Sale
Breeders will have a timely chance to invest in one of Australia’s most exciting young stallions next week, with two individual stallion shares in Cool Aza Beel to be offered via the Magic Millions Virtual Sale on Tuesday, August 5.
Fifth Winner For Hanseatic As Audio Pop Cam Wins
With four jumpouts under her belt, winning the last three, Tony and Calvin McEvoy's Hanseatic filly Audio Pop Cam was too good for her rivals, starting favourite to win the Unox Casa Maiden Plate (1100m) at Pakenham with ease.
Oaks Winner Back to Best
Last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Sentimental Miss returned to her best with a quality staying performance to take out the Listed Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup (2040m).
Consecutive Wins For Lucky Vega’s I’m Lucky Two
Off the back of an impressive two length victory over 1000m at Toowoomba at the end of June, the month between runs didn’t pose any issues as the Michael Nolan trained Lucky Vega (IRE) gelding I’m Lucky Two stepped out over 870m to win once again.